Previewing the district draws for Oakland County’s teams
If you weren’t aware, Oakland County is a volleyball powerhouse.
This area is responsible for the last seven Division 1/Class A state champions.
It also is home to the defending Division 2 state champion.
As we embark on the 2022 postseason, which begins on Monday, it’s likely Oakland County will see more champions crowned again this year.
Currently, four county teams are in MIVCA’s Division 1 top 10. It also has three ranked in Division 2, including the topranked team in both divisions (Marian, Birmingham Detroit Country Day).
In order to win a state championship, you have to first win a district title.
Here’s a look at what the county is facing heading into district week:
Division 1 District 14 at Ann Arbor Skyline
• First Round: G1: Dexter vs. Ann Arbor Pioneer
• Semifinals: Ann Arbor Skyline vs. South Lyon; South Lyon East vs. G1 winner
• Outlook: South Lyon and South Lyon East get a tough draw, having to travel to Ann Arbor Skyline for district play.
Skyline was the 2021 D1 runnerup and still bring a strong team to the court this season, led by outside hitter Harper Murray, who is arguably the nation’s top-ranked player in the Class of 2023. South Lyon draws Skyline
in the semifinal, while East could get a chance at them in the finals. Ultimately, it’s going to take a massive effort to pull off the upset of Skyline.
District 17 at Northville
• First Round: G1: Canton vs. Churchill; G2: Northville vs. Salem
• Semifinals: Novi vs. G1 winner; Plymouth vs. G2 winner
• Outlook: This KLAA-loaded conference really comes down to Northville and Novi. Both have been ranked all season in Division 1, with Northville taking the conference matchup with the Wildcats in four sets. The Mustangs also own a pair of two-set wins over Novi in tournaments throughout the season. The Wildcats have what it takes to beat Northville, but the Mustangs have the hitting and defensive depth to contend for the state title this year. Northville is the only team to beat Marian and that should provide enough momentum for it to win this district.
District 18 at Farmington Hills Mercy
• First Round: G1: Southfield A&T vs. Detroit Henry Ford
• Semifinal: Farmington vs. Farmington Hills Mercy; Livonia Stevenson vs. G1 winner
• Outlook: It’s a home district for Mercy this week and not much competition for the Marlins. A top10 team in Division 1, the Marlins have only suffered losses to the best of the best in the state. Behind its stud two-setter duo of Campbell Flynn and Erin Kline, the Marlins are able to play fast. Flynn and Ella Shields are proving to be a great finishing duo as well.
District 22 at Berkley
• First Round: G1: Warren Mott vs. Berkley; G2: Detroit Renaissance vs. Royal Oak
• Semifinals: Detroit Mumford vs. G1 winner; Oak Park vs. G2 winner
• Outlook: Berkley had a strong regular season with over 30 wins and the Bears fell just short of an OAA White title. The regular season loss to Rochester should provide motivation for the big matches ahead this week. Berkley has some real game-changers in hitters Sawyer Jones and Ava Beard. I expect them to carry the Bears to the district title.
District 25 at Bloomfield Hills
• First Round: G1: Bloomfield Hills vs. North Farmington
• Semifinals: Birmingham Groves vs. Birmingham Marian, Birmingham Seaholm vs. G1 winner
• Outlook: Marian begins its attempt at a third consecutive Division 1 state championship when it takes on Groves in a semifinal on Wednesday. The Mustangs have been dominant all season, suffering just one loss when it was down two starters. It’s unclear if Miss Volleyball finalist Ella Schomer will be available this week, but it shouldn’t keep the Mustangs from collecting some more hardware. Marian is just too powerful and deep for the rest of the field in this district. Senior setter Ava Sarafa pushes an offensive pace that few have had an answer for over her four years with the Mustangs.
District 26 at Troy
• First Round: G1: Rochester Adams vs. Auburn Hills Avondale; G2: Rochester vs.
Troy Athens.
• Semifinals: Troy vs. G1 winner; Stoney Creek vs. G2 winner
• Outlook: It’s an allOAA district at Troy that should feature a lot of competitive matchups throughout the week. All the teams have been battle-tested and ready to show they have what it takes to come away with the district title. Rochester ran the table in the OAA White, but will have an uphill climb against OAA Red teams like Adams, Troy and Stoney Creek. The team I like out of this district is Adams. The Highlanders are led by an impressive duo of sophomores in outside Emily Edwards and middle Tina Barnekova. The two have helped the Highlanders compete against the likes of Clarkston and Lakeland. I expect them to show their growth from the season and lead Adams to the district crown.
District 30 at Fenton
• First Round: G1: Swartz Creek vs. Holly
• Semifinals: Linden vs. Grand Blanc, Fenton vs. G1 winner
• Outlook: Holly has a tough draw against Flint Metro League powers Linden and Fenton, as well as Saginaw Valley League champion Grand Blanc. The Bronchos are a relatively young team, looking more like a district contender in 2023. Look for Grand Blanc to grind its way to the district championship in this one.
District 31 at Clarkston
• First Round: G1: Pontiac vs. Lake Orion; G2: Clarkston vs. Waterford Mott
• Semifinals: Waterford Kettering vs. G1 winner; Oxford vs. G2 winner
• Outlook: As tends to happen in district time, Clarkston and Lake Orion are likely to find themselves playing for the district championship this week. Both teams own wins over Oxford this season, while Mott and Kettering struggled to pick up wins in the Lakes Valley Conference. The Wolves have won seven of their eight sets against the Dragons this season. Having the advantage of playing at home just solidifies the feelings that Clarkston will come away with the district title.
District 32 at West Bloomfield
• First Round: G1: Lakeland vs. Milford; G2: West Bloomfield vs. Walled Lake Northern
• Semifinals: Walled Lake Wester vs. G1 winner; Walled Lake Central vs. G2 winner
• Outlook: Lakeland is the Lakes Valley Conference champion once again, but Milford gave it a five-set thriller during the regular season and another close call in the LVC Tournament last weekend. The winner of this opener on Tuesday may very well determine the champion. Walled Lake Northern has a lot of potential as well, but Lakeland’s experience winning big matches this time of year should be key. A group of seven seniors, led by Eve Martin, Rachel Zurek and Kennedy Hudson should lead the Eagles to another district title.
Division 2 District 54 at Hazel Park
• First Round: G1: Hazel Park vs. Ferndale University
• Semifinals: Warren Fitzgerald vs. Warren Lincoln; Ferndale vs. G1 winner
• Outlook: Hazel Park has a great opportunity this week. Fresh off a coMAC Bronze title, the Vikings have a pair of conference teams they’ve defeated in the bracket, as well as a pair of Ferndale squads. A potential semifinal between Hazel Park and Ferndale should decide the winner of this bracket, and I will side with the home team.
District 57 at Notre Dame Prep
• First Round: G1: St. Catherine Academy vs. Birmingham Detroit Country Day
• Semifinals: CranbrookKingswood vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep; Orchard Lake St. Mary’s vs. G1 winner
• Outlook: This is a really strong D2 district full of Oakland County teams. Notre Dame Prep is the defending state champion, while Country Day has joined the Irish near the top of the MIVCA D2 rankings all season. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s is fresh off a CHSL championship in its third year as a program, while St. Catherine and Cranbrook can be tough outs. Unlike last year, where DCD and NDP didn’t meet until the quarterfinal, a district final matchup seems likely. Country Day has been working for the day it can finally get past the Irish and the Yellowjackets’ size and power at the net should be too much for the Irish. NDP always plays a strong technical game, but I expect DCD to be more consistent when it comes to finishing points.
District 58 at Macomb Lutheran North
• First Round: G1: Warren Regina vs. Center Line
• Semifinals: Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Warren Michigan Collegiate; Macomb Lutheran North vs. G1 winner
• Outlook: Lamphere won the MAC Silver, so it comes into the district with some confidence. But, the Rams will have to contend with two tough CHSL foes in Lutheran North and Regina. Those two programs are a little more battle-tested, facing the best the Catholic League has to offer. I give Regina a slight advantage in the head-to-head.
Division 3 District 89 at Royal Oak Shrine
• First Round: G1: Detroit Community vs. Detroit Communication Media Arts
• Semifinals: Southfield Bradford vs. Detroit Jalen Rose; Royal Oak Shrine vs. G1 winner
• Outlook: Royal Oak Shrine knows how to win this time of year and it is given an added advantage of playing at home. This doesn’t look like a bracket that should give the Knights any real difficulty.
District 90 at GP Woods University Liggett
• First Round: G1: Center Line Prep Academy vs. Detroit Central; G2: Madison Heights Madison vs. Detroit Edison
• Semifinals: GP Woods University Liggett vs. G1 winner; Detroit Pershing vs. G2 winner
• Outlook: Madison has had a tough season, so it’s hard to see it running the table this week and putting three wins together. Liggett has played a tougher schedule than the rest of the field and that should help it win the district title at home.
District 91 at Clawson
• First Round: G1: Clintondale vs. Clawson; G2: Mount Clemens vs. Madison Heights Bishop Foley
• Semifinals: New Haven vs. G1 winner; Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest vs. G2 winner
• Outlook: Bishop Foley has always been a tough out in the postseason, but I like Lutheran Northwest to come out with the title in this one. The Crusaders have tested themselves against much larger competition during the season to be ready for this time of year.
Division 4 District 121 at Webberville
• First Round: G1: Webberville vs. Lansing Christian; G2: Novi Christian Academy vs. Brighton Livingston Christian; G3: Huron Valley Lutheran vs. Frankel Jewish Academy
• Semifinals: Lutheran Westland vs. G1 winner; G2 winner vs. G3 winner
• Outlook: It’s a decent hike for Novi Christian Academy and Frankel Jewish Academy this week. Unfortunately for both, Lansing Christian is ranked No. 9 in the state right now. It’s going to be tough for either team to get past the Pilgrims.
District 122 at Auburn Hills Oakland Christian
• First Round: G1: Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes vs. Auburn Hills Oakland Christian; G2: Clarkston Everest Collegiate vs. Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart
• Semifinals: Auburn Hills Christian vs. G1 winner; Pontiac Academy for Excellence vs. G2 winner
• Outlook: This should be an entertaining district as it features a lot of local rivalries in Division 4. While Waterford Our Lady has some athletes, I look for Clarkston Everest Collegiate and Oakland Christian to ultimately meet up in the district final. It’s a pretty evenly matched contest, but the Lancers have proven they know how to win in the postseason. That championship experience should be key in some tough matchups this week.
District 123 at Bloomfield Hills Roeper
• First Round: G1: Bloomfield Hills Roeper vs. Southfield Manoogian; G2: Taylor Trillium Academy vs. Melvindale Academy; G3: Westland Universal Learning Academy vs. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist
• Semifinals: G1 winner vs. G2 winner; Southfield Christian vs. G3 winner
• Outlook: Southfield Christian won the MIAC Red this season and isn’t far removed to some appearances in Battle Creek. The Eagles could find themselves against Allen Park Inter-City Baptist, a 2021 state semifinalist, in this week’s district semifinal. The winner of that is the favorite to claim the district crown. ICB is a little young compared to Southfield Christian, so I will side with the Eagles.